Independent review of complexity in the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme

About the review

The National Registration and Accreditation Scheme was established in 2009 as a single regulatory model for registered health practitioners in Australia.

The NRAS has changed since 2010. Recommendations from 25 previous reviews and parliamentary inquiries aimed to continuously improve it over time.

In early 2023, the public raised concerns about inconsistent practices. As a result, Commonwealth, state and territory health ministers agreed to an independent review of the NRAS.

The review process will involve consultation with stakeholders. This will make sure the NRAS continues to support high-quality and safe health services.

Terms of reference

Health ministers have approved the terms of reference for the review.

Why the review is important

The review recommendations will:

• keep in step with community expectations
• improve how the NRAS makes decisions and deals with complaints about health practitioners
• consider how the NRAS can expand and grow to meet future needs
• advise on how strategy and direction will be set for the NRAS in the future.

Independent reviewer

Ms Sue Dawson was appointed as the independent reviewer in April 2024.

Ms Dawson most recently held the position of New South Wales Health Care Complaints Commissioner. She has also worked in senior roles in the NSW and Commonwealth public sectors for:

• income support
• school funding
• employment policy and programs.

She has qualifications in law, social work and urban planning. Her formal training in public sector policy, regulation and service delivery includes completing the Executive Fellows program at the Australia New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG).

She will bring her extensive experience and knowledge of health regulation in Australia to the complexity review.

Key timeframes

The review process will have 4 phases:

1. research and analysis
2. preparing the first consultation paper, including evidence, questions and possible solutions
3. consultation including submissions and stakeholder forums
4. identification of preferred solutions in a second consultation paper and targeted consultation.

The final Review report will be presented to Health Ministers in July 2025.

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Have your say

The Review has undertaken two rounds of consultation, following release of Consultation Papers 1 and 2. The extensive feedback received throughout the Review process has been invaluable in shaping the direction of the Review and refining the reform options under consideration. 

Consultation is now completed and all inputs, verbal and written, are being analysed in the process of preparing the Final Report.

Consultation papers

Stakeholder submissions

Stakeholder submissions to the Review are available on the Consultation Hub.

Updates

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